This article is part of our FanDuel NBA series.
The Spurs got blown out in Game 3, but they kept it competitive enough that the starters didn't completely sit until late in the fourth quarter. Kawhi Leonard sat his second straight game, but if he is able to play Monday, it should be noted that the Spurs were up by 23 points in Game 1 when he got hurt. In Cleveland on Sunday, the Cavaliers come home on the heels of a 44-point victory in Game 2. Plus, with the news that Isaiah Thomas is out for the playoffs with a hip injury, it seems very unlikely that the Celtics can even make Game 3 competitive.
Stephen Curry, GS at SA ($10,000): Curry has scored 55.9, 51.9 and 38.5 fantasy points in the three games of the Conference Finals. With Thomas done for the season and Kyle Lowry yet to score more than 28.7 fantasy points in his two Eastern Conference Finals games, Curry is standing alone as the highest producing guard option.
Marcus Smart, BOS at CLE ($5100): Smart is likely to get more minutes with a larger role moving forward with Thomas out for the playoffs. Smart averaged almost 20 fantasy points in the first two games, which is actually competitive with every shooting guard outside of Klay Thompson.
Manu Ginobili, SA vs GS ($3000): Ginobili turned back the clock with 21 points in 18 minutes Saturday. In his last five games, he has three between 23.7 and 29.9 fantasy points, and two of 11.6 and under. He's a risk, but he's a punt play with starter upside.
LeBron James, CLE vs BOS ($12,500): James has been the safest play in the playoffs with at least 52 fantasy points in each game. In two contests against the Celtics, he still averaged about 60 fantasy points per game despite both being blowouts. The only thing that would limit his production is if he rests.
Kevin Love, CLE vs BOS ($7500): Love scored 48.4 fantasy points in Game 1, then followed up with 39.4 in 27 minutes of a blowout in Game 2. The Celtics are weak on the interior, and Love has taken advantage of it. It's telling that he put up a big number even in the massive blowout game, suggesting he could produce in Game 3 even if it gets out of hand.
Kyle Anderson, SA vs GS ($2500): Anderson and Jonathon Simmons ($4300) have both played well during the period with Leonard injured, but Anderson costs significantly less. Anderson has scored 24 and 25.3 fantasy points in his last two games, and with Greg Popovic announcing that it is unlikely that Leonard plays Monday, Anderson should have another opportunity to outproduce his minimum price tag.
Al Horford, BOS at CLE ($8000): Horford's upside is strongly limited by the expected blowout nature of Game 3. With that said, he's the only center that has shown the ability to score more than 40 fantasy points on a regular basis. It's unlikely he'll hit that, as he's been in the 20s of fantasy points of late, but he at least he has upside.
Tristan Thompson, CLE vs BOS ($5100): Thompson produced a strong 36.8 fantasy points in Game 1 but dropped off to only 8.9 in Game 2. He has played well against the Celtics all season, particularly controlling the paint, but again, his production depends on playing time relative to the previously mentioned blowout scenario.
JaVale McGee, GS at SA ($4000): McGee started and turned in 16 points with a rebound and a blocked shot in only 13 minutes in Game 3. ZaZa Pachulia is dealing with a heel injury that kept him out of Game 3 and could force him to miss Game 4. McGee doesn't play much, but he scores efficiently and can put up rebounds/blocked shots numbers when given the opportunity.
